Shiny Demon

Falling is Like This

Content Warning: This chapter references past self-harm, restrictive eating, and loss of a parent. Be gentle with yourself if any of this is triggering! Feel free to comment here, or message me here, on Twitter (@jolenejuno) or Reddit (@throughthejunobush) if you want to know what happens but don't want to read.

"So, are you two, like, a couple now?" Iona asked.

"No," Genevieve answered matter-of-factly. "Harry and I are both single now."

The dumping had been brutal. He'd been happy that Genevieve had been spared, but it was heart wrenching to have to say goodbye to AJ. She'd made him promise at least ten times to text her when he left the Villa. He was glad she was leaving with Tai, who seemed to be taking the whole thing in cheerful stride.

It was strange to see Yas leave and know the door had closed on that completely. But he was surprised by how little that knowledge bothered him. Since he coupled up with Stevie, he didn't feel the same draw to her.

Harry had been at the very bottom of Seb's list to save, and so, naturally, he was the other Islander that the public chose to save. He had to assume he'd edged his way in on the love-to-hate-little-pricks vote.

"I may be technically single," Harry said as he leaned back in his chair. "But everyone knows I'm loyal to Stevie."

Genevieve shot him a disparaging look. "Oh really?"

"Really," he said, not looking at her. "Even when I was with Yasmin, nothing happened."

Camilo raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Yas say you tried--"

"Nothing. Happened," Harry said sternly, cutting him off.

Stevie, who was fishing an ice cube out of her glass, didn't seem to be paying attention to the conversation at all. They were on their fourth drink, now. Or maybe she was on her fifth. He'd lost track.

"It's too early for us to be the final four couples, right?" Iona mused while she swirled an olive in her martini glass.

"It would be an odd final four," Elladine said. "With an unofficial pairing and a friendship couple in the mix."

"Friendship couples are real couples," Nicky said, nodding toward Seb. "They won the challenge today, after all. Plus Seb has that mopey-bastard charisma." He reached over and squished Seb's cheeks together. "Who wouldn't root for this sweet grumpy face?" 

"Fuck off," Seb said through pinched cheeks before shoving him away and laughing. "Stevie and I are legit. We already had a roll in the hay."

A hooting laugh shot out of Stevie, making an ember of something warm glow in his chest. It was such an odd feeling, sitting in that small kitchen, a good friend on either side of him, feeling like he belonged. It wasn't something he'd ever thought he'd find on this show.

"I didn't mean you couldn't win," Elladine tittered an uneasy laugh. "I just meant, it's probably too early for the final four."

"I can't believe they're all gone," Genevieve stabbed a stirring stick into the ice in her empty cup. "The Villa feels so empty now."

Iona nodded sadly. "I'm going to miss Miki so much. Even Bill." She rubbed Viv's arm sympathetically. "Are you missing Ciaran, babe?"

Her face flushed. "Oh, I mean, everyone. But yeah, him too." Her eyes fell on Seb for a moment, and he gave her a reassuring smile. Her expression warmed as she returned it.

Stevie shot up from her seat unsteadily. "I'll be heading to bed now." Harry leaned forward as if he were about to get up to go with her. She wobbled off balance for a moment and caught the table with her hand. "It has come to my attention," she attempted a regal tone but the syllables stretched and blurred together. "... that I am rather drunk." She turned to Seb. "Sebastian," she hiccuped. "As my official friend, will you please escort me to bed, if you please?"